If you're looking at the upcoming slate of movie releases from major American studios, the scene might look a little bleak. There is no "Barbenheimer" part two, there are too many prequels and spin-offs, but there are a few indie projects and auteur directors that stand out. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, here's what you can look forward to in the cinemas.

'Alien Romulus' (August 16)

This is has got to be the last possible attempt Disney takes with this franchise. It's becoming like "The Terminator," a franchise running on fumes, repeating the same handful of ideas and imagery over and over. If this is bad, then it's an IP-killer, and probably goes the route of a direct-to-streaming property like "Predator" (which had a successful Hulu release "Prey.") But, we still need to know what they're cooking up this time with Cailee Spaeny, a very talented young actress on the rise.

'The Bikeriders' (June 21)

This film already hit the festival circuit last year, and plenty of critics have said good things about it. Maybe not amazing things, but this long-delayed '60s Chicago rebel-without-a-cause drama is worth seeing, if not just for the cast alone: Jodie comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook and Damon Herriman.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' (June 28)

John Krasinski directed two good horror movies, but now, we are in the prequel/spin-off business, and a different writer/director has taken the reins. Lupita Nyong'o can do no wrong, and this will be the first test for Joe Quinn on the big screen.

'Twisters' (July 19)

The summer of Glen Powell is upon us! He's taken Hollywood by the balls and gotten himself involved with as many indie projects and big-budget action films as possible. "Top Gun: Maverick" was only the beginning. This is a sequel and reboot of the '96 film "Twister," and they got Lee Isaac Chung to direct it, which is maybe the weirdest choice I can think of (besides getting Barry Jenkins to do a CGI "Lion King" prequel.) Let's hope this turns out to be fun!

'Inside Out 2' (June 14)

Pixar has been in the dregs ever since their perfect image turned out to be a total crock, and many of its talented writers and directors left. It's safe to say the magic in Pixar films has gone down tremendously since the early 2000s. Let's hope this sequel can bring it back, unlike their recent ones "Brave" and "Good Dinosaur."

'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' (May 24)

George Miller deserves the benefit of the doubt for double-dipping into the Mad Max universe "Mad Max: Fury Road" — a movie that was so improbably good. It won a bunch of awards, one would only be tempting fate by trying to do a prequel about Furiosa without Charlize Theron. This does, and it looks good. Let's hope and pray Miller hasn't lost his fastball. It's stuff he's good at, and I'm not going to bet against Anya Taylor-Joy as long as I live.

'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' (May 10)

Miraculously, the three most recent "Apes" movies have been excellent, and a gigantic shot in the arm to that long-running franchise. Matt Reeves and Andy Serkis aren't returning, since the Caesar trilogy ended, and that's a lot of legacy lost. Can newcomer Wes Ball, and a new cast of characters, keep the hot streak going? Man do I hope so, so much, because this kicks off summer movie season really soon.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' (July 26)

There is only one question that this movie needs to answer — Can it save the Marvel Cinematic Universe? If this movie can reignite the MCU and reintroduce the X-Men, then Disney and Kevin Feige are cooking with gas. If this doesn't produce the numbers everyone is expecting, then you know the superhero genre is cooked, and thoroughly done for good. A lot rides on the shoulders of this one, it's going to be very interesting to see the box office returns week after week, let alone if this is even a funny movie or not.

'Hit Man' (May 24)

Everyone who has already seen Richard Linklater's "Hit Man" says it's amazing, nearing universal praise. That alone has us sold, but the film coming to theaters ahead of its Netflix release in June means we can see Glen Powell become a supernova level star on the big screen, and that's what he deserves.

'Kinds of Kindness' (June 21)

This is NOT your typical summer movie; a truly bizarre choice to release it alongside blockbusters and the usual animated fare in June. But it's from, Yorgos Lanthimos, the award-winning Greek auteur, who's made an anthology film without a basic premise, or plot. It has Emma Stone, coming hot off the heels of a Best Actress Oscar (for another Lanthimos film "Poor Things"). Lanthimos hasn't made a bad film yet, and a cast that also includes Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau and Joe Alwyn means it's probably worth seeing.

Honorable mentions: "IF" (May 17), "Fly Me to the Moon" (July 12) and "The Crow" (August 23)

[Image: Marvel Entertainment]